The Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee reviews issues related to finance administration, taxation reform, revenue needs, and revenue sources at the federal, state, and local levels.

 

Policy Committee

Committee Leadership

2024 Chair - Kuldip Thusu, Council Member, Dinuba
2024 Vice Chair - Kevin Bash, Mayor Pro Tem, Norco

Committee Members
The committee's membership is comprised of representatives from each of the Cal Cities professional departments, regional divisions, and caucuses, and appointments by the Cal Cities president.

2024 Policy Committee membership roster.

Learn how to join a Policy Committee.

Meeting Agendas and Highlights

The Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee will meet in 2024 on the following dates and times:

  • Thursday, March 21, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
    Marriot Burbank Airport Hotel
    Agenda
  • Thursday, June 20, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
    Virtual
    2023 Meetings

    California Grants Portal

    The California Grants Portal (a project by the California State Library) is your one destination to find all grants and loans offered on a competitive or first-come basis by California state agencies. 

    Annual Conference and Expo

    October 16-18, 2024

    Long Beach Convention Center

    300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA

    The 2024 League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center, Oct. 16-18, features general sessions, workshops, and networking events. The conference attracts hundreds of leaders from all sections of city government, including mayors, council members, city managers, city clerks, city attorneys, fiscal officers, and other city staff. 

    This year’s conference will offer educational and innovative leadership sessions across a variety of formats, with a roster of more than 100 speakers. Change is constant in our cities, and these sessions will support city leaders by equipping them with the latest knowledge, resources, and tools to advance their communities and assist officials in their daily roles and operations within their city.   

    For questions about registration, please contact our registrar, Megan Dunn. For questions about becoming an exhibitor, please contact Amy Wade. For all other questions, please contact Education and Events Manager, Christina George

    Become an Exhibitor Become a Sponsor

    Please review our event and meeting policies.

    Conference Information

    Explore Previous Conferences

    Click here to view the 2023 Annual Conference and Expo program.

    Previous Session Materials
    2023 Session Materials

    MCLE Session Materials

    Access the MCLE sessions agenda here.

    Access the MCLE Evaluation form here.

    Read speaker bios here.

    Artificial Intelligence and the Practice of Law (MCLE Specialty Credit for Technology in the Practice of Law)

    Speakers: Peter Lee, Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law, Director, Center for Innovation, Law, and Society, UC Davis School of Law
    Matthew Slentz, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
    Paper |  PowerPoint

    General Municipal Litigation Update

    Speakers: Pamela K. Graham, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
    Meghan Wharton, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
    Paper | PowerPoint

    Meeting Disruptions, Workplace Violence Restraining Orders, and the Bane Act

    Speakers: Jon R. di Cristina, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
    Ryan Richardson, Chief Assistant City Attorney, Oakland
    Paper | PowerPoint

    Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update

    Speaker: John Luebberke, Of Counsel, Herum Crabtree Suntag
    Paper | PowerPoint

    Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing – State and Federal Law

    Speakers: Celeste Stahl Brady, Shareholder, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth
    Yolanda M. Summerhill, Assistant City Attorney, Newport Beach
    Paper |  PowerPoint

    Case Study: A Capital City’s Approach to Unsheltered Community

    Speakers: Emilio Camacho, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
    Aaron M. Israel, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
    Beau Parkhurst, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
    Paper |  PowerPoint

    Labor and Employment Litigation Update

    Speakers: Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
    Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
    Paper |  PowerPoint

    CalPERS Legal Update, Emerging Issues, and Common Compliance Problems

    Speakers: Steve M. Berliner, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
    Michael D. Youril, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
    Paper |  PowerPoint

    Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update

    Speakers: Jeremiah Johnson, Partner, ColeHuber
    Neil Okazaki, Senior Deputy City Attorney / Constitutional Policing Advisor, Corona
    Paper |  PowerPoint

    Pay to Play No More? Levine Act (SB1439)

    Speakers: Robert Fabela, City Attorney, Anaheim
    Amanda B. Freeman, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Fresno
    Rebecca L. Moon, Senior Assistant City Attorney, Sunnyvale
    Paper|   PowerPoint

    Practicing Ethics (MCLE Specialty Credit for Legal Ethics)

    Speaker: Valerie Silverman Massey, Chief Deputy City Attorney, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, San Diego
    Paper | PowerPoint

    2022 Session Materials

    MCLE Session Materials

    Access the MCLE sessions agenda here.

    Read speaker bios here.

    Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update

    Speaker: William Ihrke, City Attorney, Cerritos and La Quinta, Partner, Rutan & Tucker

    Affordable Housing Covenants: Ensuring Continued Affordability

    Speakers: Barbara Kautz, Partner, Goldfarb & Lipman

    Gabrielle Janssens, Attorney, Goldfarb & Lipman
    Paper | PowerPoint


    The People’s Business: California Public Records Act Update

    Speakers: Donald A. Larkin, City Attorney, Morgan Hill
    Kelly Trujillo, Assistant City Attorney, Napa

    Practical Tips for Reviewing Public Works Contracts

    Speakers: Gary Bell, City Attorney, Auburn, Town Attorney, Yountville, Assistant City Attorney, Novato, Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
    Matthew Summers, City Attorney, Barstow, Calabasas and Ojai, Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley

    Transferring and Financing Risk in Public Works Contracts

    Speaker: Deirdre Joan Cox, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen

    Lawyers’ Responses to Audit Letters: Law, Practice, and A Few Tips

    Speaker: Peter M. Thorson, City Attorney, Temecula, Jurupa Valley, Shareholder, Richards Watson Gershon

    Section 1090 Update: Davis v. Fresno, FPPC Opinions and Other Developments

    Speaker: Sean SeLegue, Partner, Arnold & Porter

    Wireless Update: Shot Clocks, Deemed Granted Remedies and Fee Challenges

    Speakers: Gail Karish, Partner, Best Best & Krieger
    Lutfi Kharuf, Partner, Best Best & Krieger
    Christopher Diaz, City Attorney, Colma and Hillsborough, Partner, Best Best & Krieger

    Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update

    Speaker: Timothy T. Coates, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland

    Getting It Right: Best Practices in Responding to Government Claims

    Speakers: Alana Rotter, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland
    Nadia Sarkis, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland

    Labor and Employment Litigation Update

    Speakers: Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

    Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
    Paper | PowerPoint

    Microaggresions vs. Dog Whistle: How to Differentiate and Investigate

    Speakers: Danielle Drossel, Attorney Investigator, Oppenheimer Investigations Group
    Vida Thomas, Partner, Oppenheimer Investigations Group

    General Municipal Litigation Update

    Speaker: Pamela K. Graham, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley

    Public Safety and Individual Rights in the Age of Firearms

    Speakers: Kyle Brochard, Shareholder, Richards Watson & Gershon
    T. Peter Pierce, Shareholder, Richards Watson & Gershon

    So, You Say You Have Diversity?! Now What? (Specialty MCLE – Elimination of Bias)

    Speakers: Glen Googins, City Attorney, Chula Vista
    Robert Lennox, Assistant City Manager, Carson
    Sunny Soltani, City Attorney, Carson, Partner, Aleshire & Wynder
    2021 Session Materials
    MCLE Resources

    2021 Annual Conference City Attorneys Programming Agenda

    Speaker Bios

    Legal Issues:  Social Media; Cannabis
    Social Media, First Amendment and Government: New Rules of Engagement 
    Speaker: David Mehretu, Meyers Nave

    Overview of Cannabis Regulation Guide
    Speakers: Lisa Vidra, City Attorney, Culver City
    Emilio Camacho, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento

    Report from the Ad Hoc Emergency Response Committee
    Speaker: Gregory G. Diaz, Ad Hoc Emergency Response Committee Chair, City Attorney, San Buenaventura


    Policy and Legal Considerations in Serving the Unsheltered 
    Speakers: Elizabeth L. Atkins, Deputy City Attorney, San Diego
    Bridgette Dean, Director, Office of Community Response
    Aaron M. Israel, Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
    Andrea M. Velasquez, Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento


    Legal Issues: Land Use, CEQA and Surplus Land Act 
    Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update
    Speaker: William Ihrke, City Attorney, La Quinta, Partner, Rutan & Tucker

    Impact of Recent Changes to the Surplus Land Act
    Speakers: Erin Lapeyrolerie, Attorney, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP
    Karen Tiedemann, Attorney, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP


    Legal Issues: Design Immunity and Tort and Civil Rights Litigation
    The Basics of Design Immunity:  Creating a Paper Trail
    Speaker: Robert Ceccon, Shareholder, Richards, Watson & Gershon

    Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update
    Speaker: Timothy T. Coates, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland


    Legal Issues:  Labor and Employment Law
    Labor and Employment Litigation Update
    Speaker: Brian P. Walter, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

    Impacts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts on Employment Litigation
    Speaker: Suzanne Solomon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 


    Legal Issues:  Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Specialty MCLE)
    (MCLE Specialty Credit – Recognition and Elimination of Bia in the Legal Profession and  Society)
    Report on the Cal Cities Advancing Equity Advisory Committee
    Speaker: Eric S. Casher, City Attorney, Pinole, Meyers Nave

    Early Lessons on Setting up a DEI Committee
    Speakers: Elena Gerli, Partner, Aleshire & Wynder
    Sunny Soltani, Equity Partner, Aleshire & Wynder

    Implementing DEI in your City
    Speaker: Jason R. Alcala, City Attorney, Livermore

    Legal Issues:  Municipal Litigation Update
    General Municipal Litigation Update
    Speaker: Holly O. Whatley, Assistant City Attorney, South Pasadena, Ojai, Sierra Madre, Shareholder, Colantuono Highsmith Whatley, PC

    2020 Session Materials




    Take Action


    Our advocacy efforts are strongest when joined by the voices of city leaders. Visit the action center for a list of current priority legislative bills and proposals, and sample letters of support or opposition.

     

    Make your voice heard

    Contact Staff


    Ben Triffo
    Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist, Revenue and Taxation
    (916) 738-9062

    Curious why Cal Cities supports or opposes certain bills or measures? Advocacy efforts are determined by  Annual Conference Resolutions or the  Existing Policy and Guiding Principles.